Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-06-24
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

uVU WNoEMuiuU Il tIUt
Written and compiled for the HERALD.
WASHINGTON, June Goth, 1887.
This city lor the past few days
has been getting its share of the
tOrrld wave, and those of its swell.
tering citizens who can afford such
Iuxuries are fleeing to the sea shore,
or the noun aims, while others who
are less fortunate find temporary
relief in boating and picnicing on
the Potomac. In fact, it is the
general picnic season of churches,
societies, and Sunday Schools, and
almost daily the historic river floats
many crafts bearing hundreds of
passengers on pleasure boats.
1t would seem from the late re-
port of the grand Jury of the DIS
trict of Columbia that great num-
bers Of the Government employees
are threatened with danger more
disastrous than dismissal from Of
fee. Says the reporter ave have
taken testimony as 10 the condition
Of the different Government build
ings in this city, and find that the
Treasury Department, Interior De-
partment. and Post Office Depart
meut buildings are in a very bad
sanitary condition, owing, princi-
pally, 70 the defective manner IN
which the sewers and sewer con-
nectlons in them are constructed.
From this cause the health and
lives of those who occupy these
buildings are endangered. If such
buildings were kept in such a con-
dition by a private individual he
would be liable TO indictment for
maintaining a nuisance. We rec
Ommend that Congress be request
ed TO provide a remedy for this
great evil" The report pronounces
the Government Printing Office a
veritable fire. trap. There are two
wooden stair-ways, and only one OF
them extends above the second
floor, which IN case of fire, would
make the danger to life very great
to those on the third and fourth
floors, particularly when YOU re-
member that most of them are fe-
males. Not over three.fourths of
the employees could use the pres
ent fre.eScapes.
The colored people of this city
we're greatly enthused and gratifed
the other night by President Cleve-
land distributing diplomas to the
graduating class Of their High
School, which was a graceful act.
The people OF this city and Dis
trict have long been restless under
disfranchisement, feeling quite nat
urally that, as citizens of the Unit
ed States, they should have the
same privileges as other citizens of
the States. They have not only
been denied the right to vote but
are also deprived Of "home rule,'
many of the most important local
Offices being filed by non.residents
of the District. There Is a Com
mittee of One Hundred whose duty
it is to agitate these questions, and
it is earnestly hoped that they will
ultimately accomplish the object
desired, although the prospect OF
securing such results is not the
most fiattering.
The knowing ones declare that
the President is casting abont for
new Cabinet materials, he having
determined to promote Secretary
Lamar to the Supreme Bench va
cancy. AS It is certain that a
Southerner will fill the place, am
sure Mr.. Lamar would be far more
acceptable generally than any 9TH
er man from that section, for he is
brilliant, conservative, and progress
sive.
l learn that Speaker Carlisle will
come to the Capitol next month for
the purpose of holding conference
with the President and Secretary
Fairchild as to the advisability OF
calling an extra session of Con.
gress. The general opinion of
those who are best informed is that
the Democrats will avoid an extra
session unless they conclude that
it is imperatively necessary both
for the relief of the country from
financial trouble and the salvation
of the Democracy.